Business Analyst

Job summary

Home Office Digital designs, builds and develops services for the rest of the department and for government. Every year our systems support up to 3 million visa applications, checks on 100 million border crossings, up to 8 million passport applications and deliver 140 million police checks on people, vehicles and property.

As a Business Analyst, you will work closely with civil servants, managed service partners, suppliers, and product teams to understand user and business needs, define and manage requirements, and support the transition of new products and capabilities into live service.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the transition and support of a new, critical programme within Home Office Digital. You will contribute to the delivery of the (IAM) service, a vital component in strengthening the department’s cyber security posture

Job description

IAM is a core cyber security capability, essential to effective cyber security and data protection across the Home Office. The programme focuses on reducing cyber risk, improving user access controls, enhancing user experience, streamlining policies and processes, and reducing technical debt.

A Business Analyst will receive direction from more senior business analysts on task-based delivery but will be responsible for the output. You will make sure outcomes are aligned with the service vision and business strategy by connecting the current and future business models and delivering to the future business architecture strategy or plan. You will also be involved in supporting and informing product iteration, evolution and optimisation.

You will help to develop and enhance stakeholder relationships in order to facilitate collaboration. You will be expected to draw on expertise of more senior colleagues to help you develop technical specifications and plans.

As a Business Analyst, you will work closely with civil servants, managed service partners, suppliers, and product teams to understand user and business needs, define and manage requirements, and support the transition of new products and capabilities into live service.

You will work within a cross‑functional team to support delivery of key outcomes, analyse and improve processes, remove impediments, and embed a culture of continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities:

• Developing key Business Analysis skills like requirements engineering, workshop facilitation, process mapping etc and using these to enhance understanding of various project approaches and software engineering lifecycles, such as Agile, Waterfall and Incremental, whilst exploring resources and industry best practices.
• Developing techniques and knowledge around developing acceptance criteria which are scenario-based within processes that support thorough testing
• Understanding and defining the problem to be solved and ensuring strategic decision-making supports business outcomes as well as user needs
• With support, identifying service and process improvement opportunities, contributing to the implementation of proposed solutions
• Setting up and supporting workshops to enable requirements to be identified and clarified
• Drafting requirements/user stories as required to support the delivery of features
• Evidence gathering to support analysis of the business needs including user feedback sent in as the product progresses through its lifecycle
• Supporting the production of periodic performance measures to inform stakeholders and drive discussion around the required service

Working Pattern:

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

You’ll have a demonstrable passion for Business Analysis, with the following skills or some experience in:

• Analytical and problem-solving skills to help you assess and understand problems, break them down and devise and propose new solutions
• Eliciting, analysing and validating subsets of business requirements before peer review from more senior business analysts, in the most appropriate and effective manner and format
• Communicating in a variety of methods, knowledge of when to apply the appropriate method to each scenario/audience
• Building strong relationships with a broad range of people from a varied background (technical and non-technical), and applying proven communication, and analytical skills to ensure the team’s plans and objectives are achieved
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to understand, empathise, negotiate and influence individuals and groups
• Working as a team player contributing ideas and innovation in a flat team structure

The essential skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession Career Framework (based on the industry standard SFIA framework- Use the levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each technical skill listed). Please see below for the relevant skills for your role:

Desirable Criteria:

Ideally you will also have the following skills or some experience in:

• Working in the delivery of technology-based projects or been involved in applying techniques to improve operational processes
• Developing your skills by being an active member of the team and advocating on its behalf

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Consultancy (CNSL) Level 2
• Business Situation Analysis (BUSA) Level 3
• Business Modelling (BSMO) Level 2
• Requirements Definition and Management (REQM) Level 2
• Stakeholder Relationships Management (RLMT) Level 3
• Feasibility Assessment (FEAS) Level 2

Benefits

The advertised role is eligible for a Digital Capability Allowance. Successful candidates with exceptional skills and experience may apply for a Recruitment and Retention Allowance.

The allowance values are set by the Home Office, subject to remaining in a qualifying role. This allowance is non-contractual, non-pensionable, subject to an annual review and could be withdrawn at any time. Please see the Home Office Digital Recruitment and Retention Allowance Careers page for more information.

For both new entrants and existing civil servants, the total compensation offer is a combination of base salary and, if applicable, a capability-based allowance.

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.

Sign-up on our website to receive emails with information about careers at the Home Office.

See more of our benefits on our careers website.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

As part of the application process, you will first be asked to confirm your eligibility by providing some basic personal information.

1. Online test by- 6th August 2026

If you successfully pass the Civil service Numerical test(s), you will be invited to complete the full application form. Please complete the online test(s) as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended). If you fail to complete the online test(s) or full application before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn.

Guidance for the Civil Service test(s) will be available when you are invited to take the test(s). The online tests are accessed via the Civil Service Jobs website.

You cannot complete the tests on a mobile phone or tablet.

You will be directed to the Talogy - True Talent – Scheduled Maintenance Window Webpage for online tests during an outage.

Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 3 p.m. and Midnight on 2nd August 2026. You will be unable to access tests during this period.

If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.

Following successful completion of your test/s, you will then be asked to complete the full application form.

2. Application – by 12th August 2026

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 750 words).
• Evidence of the Behaviour Seeing the Big Picture (maximum of 250 words per Behaviour).

Your CV should consist of your career history and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

3. Sift - 14th August 2026

The sift will be held on the Personal Statement, CV, Behaviour seeing the big picture, as listed in the advert.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement and CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining elements submitted ( Lead Behaviour). Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

4. Interview - 7th September 2026

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) and Technical Skills based questions. All Behaviours listed in the selection process will be scored at the interview.

The interview will take place via MS teams

For guidance on the Technical skills, please refer to the SFIA levels of responsibility

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process:

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Location preference:

You can select up to two locations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location(s) and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Breaking Tied Scores

The behaviours, technical skills, have been ranked in order of importance to enable us to differentiate between candidates with tied interview scores

Candidates judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised without the need to go through a further selection process, providing the role has the same Success Profiles elements and essential skills. There is no guarantee that further such vacancies will arise.

Standards:

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Further information

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Additional Security Checks

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.

Non-Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV)

You should currently hold, or be willing to obtain, Non-Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV) Level-3 vetting (including financial checks). This is essential for the role. For further information visit About the Police National Vetting Service , Warwickshire Police.

Formal offers of employment will not be made until successful candidates have obtained both NSV clearance and NPPV3 clearance.

For existing Civil Servants: Please note that failure to obtain NPPV3 Clearance may trigger a formal review of your National Security Vetting Clearance (NSV). Depending on the nature of the information identified, this could result in your NSV being revoked.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Home office resourcing centre
• Email : HORCCampaignTeamHSGPSGandMBG@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)candidate_information_v18_July_2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 4250kB)